Flint Town United made the perfect start to their Playoff Conference campaign with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff Metropolitan in a bad-tempered game at the Essity Stadium.
Goals in either half from Connor Harwood and Callum Bratley gave Neil Gibson’s men all three points, in a game which saw 11 yellow cards brandished, with two resulting in the sending off of Silkmen captain Alex Jones.
The result sees Flint leapfrog the Archers – who are now without a win in 10 – and move out of the bottom two, while also extending their streak of not drawing in the league this season to a remarkable 23 games.
The Students had opportunities to find the net, but it was a familiar story with Christian Edwards’ men failing to score for the 10th time this season.
With defeats by a margin of six and five goals to The New Saints and Bala respectively in their last two encounters, the hosts were keen to make a positive start to ease any nerves.
However, neither side were able to stamp any sort of authority on the game in the opening 20 minutes, with a clear lack of confidence from both teams contributing to a cagey opening.
Cardiff Met’s last win away from home came in this fixture during Phase One, but they were unable to produce a repeat showing this time around.
Despite his limited involvement, Archers striker Harry Owen looked the most likely to make something happen.
Callum Bratley yn selio’r fuddugoliaeth i’r Fflint 👊
— ⚽ Sgorio (@sgorio) April 10, 2021
⬆️ Y Fflint yn codi uwchben Met Caerdydd i’r 10fed safle.
FT @FlintTownFC 2-0 Met Caerdydd pic.twitter.com/AqpN6iSs1m
The game eventually sparked into life around the half hour mark, when a total of five yellow cards were shown in a 10-minute period.
Flint’s perceived injustices helped to spur them forward, and 10 minutes before the break Ben Nash had the ball in the back of the net after rising highest from a Ben Maher free-kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Two minutes later, Alex Lang was picking the ball out of his net again, but this time the goal stood after Eddie Clarke’s low cross was bundled into the path of Josh Amis by Harwood, and he made no mistake to net his fourth goal of the season from just outside the six-yard box.
The tension from the first-half simmered over into the second period, when the Students began to take control of the midfield without being able to do anything with their possession.
Neil Gibson’s side are remarkably still yet to draw a game this season. (Photo: Lewis Mitchell)
Flint brought on Mark Cadwallader to play at the tip of a midfield diamond and Edwards replaced Joe Evans with Ollie Hubert as both managers attempted to wrestle control of the game in their favour.
The match was all but decided with just under 20 minutes left to play. The Archers failed to clear a corner and the ball was headed back towards Bratley in the six-yard box, and the classy midfielder made no mistake in firing past the helpless Lang and double his side’s lead.
The hosts were forced to play the remaining 15 minutes without their captain when Jones was shown a second yellow card for protesting with the referee. The home players and staff were incredulous with the decision, and shortly after manager Gibson had his name taken by the referee.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Flint were able to hold firm and deny Cardiff Met a way back into the game. Edwards’ side had plenty of the going in the final 10 minutes, but were left to rue any attacking inspiration once again.
Flint Town United: Jon Rushton (GK), Sam Hart, Ed Clarke (Cadwallader 65’), Kai Edwards, Josh Amis, Alex Jones (C ), Callum Bratley, Dan Roberts (Ben Nash 6’), Conor Harwood (Buckley 85’), Ben Maher, Tom Kemp (Gumbs 65’)
Goals: Harwood 38’, Bratley 72’
Yellow cards: Roberts 3’, Kemp 26’, Jones 27′, Harwood 28’, Rushton 36, Edwards 49’, Amis 68’, Buckley 90’
Red cards: Jones 77’
Cardiff Met: Alex Lang (GK), Dylan Rees (Chubb 80’), Kyle McCarthy, Bradley Woolridge (C), Emlyn Lewis, Eliot Evans, Christopher Baker, Charles Corsby, Harry Owen, Joseph Evans (Hubert 67’), Lewis Rees
Yellow cards: Lewis 35’, Owen 48’
Find out how the match unfolded with our live blog:
(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)
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